FOUR tries in ten blistering second half minutes saw Saints record a comfortable 52-10 win at Salford.
After toiling to a 14-6 half time lead they cut the Reds to pieces with some outstanding attacking play.
Jonny Lomax was in superb form, having a hand in his side’s second half scores whilst looking solid at the back.
He was supported by Paul Wellens and Jordan Turner in particular.
In the first half, Turner added his ninth of the season before Willie Manu increased the advantage.
But Martin Gleeson replied to bring the Reds right back into it.
Saints had chances but had to settle for a Garth O’Brien penalty at the stroke of half time.
In the second half, Jodie Broughton made it game on before Wellens, Lomax and Turner crossed for three tries in five minutes.
And Anthony Laffranchi got his sixth of the campaign with a typical run.
Francis Meli then added another couple before Josh Jones brought up the 50 and a comprehensive victory.
Saints made two changes from the team that beat Bradford Bulls – Laffranchi coming in for Sia Soliola and Luke Thompson returning on the bench after a virus.
Wellens and Lomax at 6 and 1 respectively.
Salford started lively and almost got lucky when a Wayne Godwin offload sparked a chance in the corner.
Saints retaliated with a couple of good sets and kick chase but the home side continued to pile on the pressure.
On 10 minutes an innocuous high ball from James Roby was spilled on the floor by Jodie Broughton. That gave Saints head and feed in Salford’s 20 but the chance was lost as the ball came left.
But on the quarter of an hour mark Lomax picked up a loose ball in midfield, scampered away and combined with Wellens to put Jordan Turner in.
And his ninth of the season was converted by Gareth O’Brien.
Willie Manu notched up Saints’ second just before the 20th minute – stretching out under some poor tackling.
Martin Gleeson replied on 24 minutes for the home side as he polished off a fantastic move after Saints were penalised in midfield.
Saints’ offloads were once again causing the opposition problems, but they couldn’t find that killer pass to make it count.
A fantastic tackle by O’Brien on Broughton with less than three minutes stopped the flyer racing away for a certain score.
Saints then had two sets on the Salford line but had to settle for an O’Brien penalty to make it 14-6 at half time.
An error in Saints’ territory gave Salford the perfect chance to kick off the second half but Lomax was more than up to the task.
But two penalties – the second one very controversial – saw Broughton fly over in the corner.
Sneyd missing his conversion attempt.
Wellens replied almost immediately on his 450th game for the club – ghosting through the defence and showing great footwork.
O’Brien converted and on Saints’ next drive a kick on the last rebounded off a Salford player and straight into the hands of a gleeful Lomax.
Saints’ next try was out of the top drawer – Turner racing down the right hand side, cutting back to fire the ball inside, before it went back out for his 10th of the year.
Three tries in five minutes making it very much a Saints second half blitz!
Anthony Laffranchi was barely on the field 30 seconds before he got Saints sixth of the night on 60 minutes – O’Brien converting for 36-10.
Saints grabbed another try when Lance Hohaia’s run set up a four on three overlap on the left hand side. Lomax then cut two men out on a great pass and Meli crossed in the corner.
O’Brien’s seventh conversion off the night pinging in off the post.
Lomax’ speed set up Meli’s second – a bamboozling run and great pass from Josh Jones.
And with five minutes to go Saints passed the 50 mark with a fortuitous effort.
A chip kick from O’Brien saw panic in the Salford defence and then they inexplicably threw it into Josh Jones’ hands for the easiest try of this career.
It was a bizarre end to a superb and satisfying evening from the Saints.
Match Summary:
Reds:
Tries: Gleeson, Broughton
Goals: Sneyd (1 from 2),
Saints:
Tries: Turner (2), Manu, Wellens, Lomax, Laffranchi, Meli (2), Jones
Goals: O’Brien (8 from 10)
Penalties:
Reds: 3
Saints: 6
HT: 14-6
FT: 52-10
REF: G Stokes
ATT: 3711
Teams:
Reds:
6. Lee Gaskell; 2. Jodie Broughton, 3. Ashley Gibson, 4. Martin Gleeson, 5. Danny Williams; 22. Marc Sneyd, 21. Theo Fages; 10. Shannon McPherson, 14. Wayne Godwin, 27. Darrell Griffin, 11. Matty Ashurst, 12. Andrew Dixon, 13. Stephen Wild.
Subs: 19. Jordan James, 23. Ryan McGoldrick, 35. Adam Walne, 36. Jake Emmitt.
Saints:
7. Jonny Lomax; 21. Tom Makinson, 3. Jordan Turner, 19. Josh Jones, 5. Francis Meli; 1. Paul Wellens, 37. Gareth O’Brien; 10. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 9. James Roby, 14. Anthony Laffranchi, 11. Tony Puletua, 13. Willie Manu, 12. Jon Wilkin.
Subs: 6. Lance Hohaia, 24. Joe Greenwood, 25. Alex Walmsley, 33. Luke Thompson.
